Undergarment construction



Feb. 22, 1966 SALAMON 3,235,883

UNDERGARMENT CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 19, 1963 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR LARRYSALAMON w MM ATTORNEL United 7 States Patent 3,235,883 UNDERGARMENT CONSTRUCTION Larry Salamon, 1634 Popham Ave, Bronx, N.Y. Filed Aug. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 302,835 6 Claims. (Cl. 2-224) This invention relates to the art of garment constructions, more particularly to an improved ladys or childs panty or brief in which though desired stretching of the garment is provided for so as to accommodate movement of the wearer, the stretching of the garment, and subsequent return to its initial position does not produce a bunching of material in the crotch of the wearer to produce discomfort.

In the design of any garment for human wear, it is necessary to provide sufficient elasticity in the garment so as to accommodate free movement of the wearer. The conventionally employed fabric utilized in the manufacture of garments is generally sufficiently elastic so as to permit this desired freedom of movement. It is found however that in areas where a garment is subject to repeated stretching the garment tends to become distorted and baggy. Where the area of stretching, after being elongated is then subject to release of tension, the baggy section tends to bunch up. In the case of undergarments such as ladies or childrens panties or briefs, though the undesirable appearance produced by bagginess does not interfere with the use of the garment, where this bagginess occurs in the crotch area, an undesired bunching of fabric results producing chafing and discomfort to the wearer. Other problems are encountered in the formation of a panty or brief when seams are formed between the components of the garment at the crotch area thereof, since the seams produce a bulkiness of material resulting in the above described discomfort. In addition to the desirability of eliminating seams in the crotch area, it is further desirable to minimize the number of seams thereby reducing the necessary operations in assembling the garment, and its production cost. Further production economy may be attained by utilizing a minimal number of separate components.

It is accordingly with the above described problems and desiderata in mind, that the present means including both method and apparatus, have been evolved, means providing for an improved garment of the panty or brief type having relatively few seams and components and in which though desired elasticity in the garment is obtained, bagginess of the garment components in those sections subject to repeated stretching do not result in undesired bunching, particularly in the crotch of the garment, so as to produce discomfort in the wearer.

It is accordingly among the primary objects of this invention to provide an improved panty or brief having desired elasticity to provide comfort for the wearer, and at the same time to eliminate the possibility of bunching due to the stretching of the garment.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved brief construction in which the bunching of material in the crotch of the garment is eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved brief construction insuring desired stretchability of the garment to accommodate motion of the wearer.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a brief construction having relatively few components, thus minimizing the required sewing operation and cost of production.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the seams in a brief, particularly in the crotch area of the garment.

3,235,883 Patented Feb. 2 2, 1966 These and other objects of the invention which will become hereafter apparent are achieved by forming a brief of anessentially three part construction. A center piece defines a front and rear panel along with a crotch therebetween. The center piece is made up of a material subject to primary elastic elongation along a longitudinal axis thereof that extends in the direction from the top of the front panel to the top of the rear panel. By forming cut-outs at the sides of the center piece contoured to fit about the inner thigh of the wearer, and extending the edges of the center piece along a taper from the ends of the cut-out to opposed ends of the center piece, the seams of the garment are arranged in a position remote from the crotch. Secured to the tapered edges are side panels which are formed of a material stretchable along an axis at an angle to the line of stretching of said centerpiece so that desired elongation or stretching of the garment may be accommodatedeither along the axis of the side panels, or along the longitudinal axis of the centerpiece which for all practical purposes will be in opposed directions to each other and therefore accommodating the different types of stretching to which the garment may be subjected.

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the stretching of the centerpiece which may tend to distort the centerpiece so as to provide bagginess is accommodated over the entire length of the centerpiece so that any bagginess which is likely to occur would occur at the seat or belly portion of the garment rather than in the crotch since the crotch is a relatively small portion of the centerpiece.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the seams conjoining the components of the garment are arranged along a line extending over a portion of the body of the wearer remote from the crotch thereby eliminating an undesired excess of material at the crotch.

The specific details of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and their mode of functioning will be made most manifest and particularly pointed out in clear, concise and exact terms in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a brief made in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the components of the garment showing same arranged as they would fit with respect to each other when assembled; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the components of the garment laid out in a plane.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, like numerals in the various figures will. be employed to designate like parts.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the improved brief 10 is intended to cover the portion of the human anatomy between the waistline, and the upper extremities of the legs. In the illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention, an elasticized waist band 11 is provided at the upper end of the garment adapted for positioning about the waist of the wearer, and serving to grip same so as to maintain the garment in desired position. Leg openings 12 and 13 are provided at a lower portion of the garment, and leg encircling bands 14 and 15, preferably of' elastic material are arranged about each of the leg openings 12 and 13 respectively.

The body covering components of the garment, comprise a centerpiece 20 and two side panels 21 and 22.

Centerpiece 20 is formed of a single piece of material cut from a bolt of cloth such as acetate, cotton, nylon, or any other suitable fabric. Knit fabrics are found preferable, and the centerpiece is cut from the fabric sothat it is subject to primary elastic elongation in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the center piece 20 as viewed in FIG. 3. The centerpiece 20 is formed with arcuately contoured cut-outs 23 and 24 at the sides of the longitudinal midpoint of the centerpiece, as best seen in FIG. 3. These cut-outs 23 and 24 are contoured to fit about the inner thigh of a wearer. On opposite sides of the contoured cut-outs 23 and 24, a front panel 25 and a rear panel 26 are defined. The edges of each of the panels are tapered from the cut-out to the end of the center piece. Thus front panel 25 is formed with opposed tapered edges 27 and 28 extending from the cut-outs 23 and 24 to the end 29 of front panel 25, which end 29 is I intended for securement to the Waist band 11 and the upper front of the garment. A portion of centerpiece 20 constituting rear panel 26 is similarly formed with edges 31 and 32 tapering from the ends of the cut-outs 23 and 24 to the end 33 of rear panel 26 joining the rear of waist band 11. As seen in FIG. 3, the ends 29 and 33 of centerpiece 20 are substantially equal to each other, and to the distance across the crotch, so that any elongation of the centerpiece produced as a result of forces at the crotch is distributed over the entire length of the centerpiece.

Side panels 21 and 22 are substantially identical and are formed of a material like that of the centerpiece 20, preferably of knit goods so that they are subject to primary elastic elongation in a direction transverse to the direction of primary elongation of centerpiece 20. Side panels 21 and 22 are secured to the centerpiece 20 along the tapered edges of the centerpiece. Thus edge 35 of side panel 21 is secured to the tapered edge 31 of rear panel 26 while edge 35 of side panel 21 is secured to tapered edge 27 of front panel 25. The lower edge 37 of side panel 21 cooperates with the cut-out 23 to form the leg hole 12 while upper edge 38 of side panel 21 is joined to the waist piece 11. Side panel 22, shown in the drawings as on the right hand side of the garment, is arranged in the assembled garment with edge 41 of side panel 22 joined to edge 28 of front panel 25, and edge 42 joined to tapered edge 32 of the rear panel 26. The lower edge 43 of side panel 22 is then in a position to be oriented with respect to cut-out 24 to form leg hole 13, While upper edge 44 is joined to waist band 11 to provide for complete encirclement of the waist of the wearer.

Binding strips 47 and 48 formed of a material like that of the garment, preferably knit goods, are arranged between the seams joining the side panels to the front and rear panels of the centerpiece. Since the binding serves to increase the strength of the seam, and since distortion of the garment at the front thereof is more undesirable than distortion at the rear, it is preferred to employ these binding strips for purposes of economy only at the front seams thereby preventing stretching of the seams. It will however be understood by those skilled in the art that similar binding may be arranged at the rear seams between the points of juncture of edges 35 and 31, and 32 and 42 respectively where additional strength is desired.

It will be observed that in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the seam 49 formed at the juncture of the ends of waist piece 11 is aligned with the seam formed at the juncture of edge 35 of side panel 21 and edge 31 of rear panel 26. Similarly seams 50 and 51 respectively of the line of juncture between the ends of leg bands 14 and 15 are arranged in alignment with the rear seam between side panels 21 and 22 and rear panel 26.

Operation The aforedescribed components are assembled into the garment shown in FIG. 1 utilizing conventional sewing techniques to conjoin the side panels 21 and 22 to center piece 20.

In assembled relationship, the centerpiece 20 as noted will be subject to primary elastic elongation along a longitudinal axis which extends from the top of rear panel 26 down under the crotch to the top of front panel 25. The length of the centerpiece is relatively large compared to the longest axis of the other components of the garment, so that the stretching which is normally distributed over the entire length of the area subject to tension will tend to provide relatively little distortion at any given point in centerpiece 20, and any distortion resulting in permanent set of the garment such as to produce bagginess will be distributed over the entire length of the centerpiece. Lateral elongation of the garment is accommodated by virtue of the elasticity ofthe side panels 21 and 22 which are subject to primary elongation along an axis substantially perpendicular to that of the centerpiece 20.

Since there is no lateral distortion of the garment along its relatively narrow crotch portion between cut-outs 23 and 24, and the longitudinal distortion is distributed along the relatively large length of centerpiece 20, the possi bility of accumulations of material at this crotch portion will be eliminated along with the resultant discomfort to the wearer.

It is thus seen that an improved undergarment has been provided in which stretching of the garment does not produce bagginess resulting in undesired bunching of material in the crotch portion thereof, and in which the seams of the garment are formed at a point on the garment remote from the crotch portion so as to minimize the quantity of material at this crotch portion.

The above disclosure has been given by Way of illustration and elucidation, and not by way of limitation, and it is desired to protect all embodiments of the herein disclosed inventive concept within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A brief comprising a symmetrical front and rear panel formed as a continuous piece extending from the front of the waist down under the crotch to the rear of the waist, said panel having a waist encompassing edge on each end thereof substantially equal to the distance across the crotch, said panel subject to primary elastic elongation in a single direction extending from the waist to the crotch; side panels secured to said front and rear panel, cooperating therewith to form a waist and leg, said side panels subject to primary elastic elongation in a direction at an angle to the direction of elastic elongation of said front and rear panel, whereby though the brief is subject to stretching to accommodate movement of the wearer distortions tending to produce bagginess upon release of tension do not produce an accumulation of material in the crotch.

2. A brief as in claim 1 in which said continuous piece is formed with an arcuate cut-out between the front and rear panels, said cut-out contoured to fit about the inner thigh of the wearer, whereby the seams between said side panels and said center piece are formed at a point remote from the crotch of the brief.

3. A brief as in claim 2 in which a waist band formed of a strip of material is secured to the upper edge of the centerpiece and said panels, with the seam joining the ends of the strip of material lying along the seam between the side panels and the rear panel.

4. A brief comprising: a centerpiece stretchable along a longitudinal axis thereof and having arcuately contoured cut-outs at the sides of a longitudinal midpoint thereof, and edges tapering inwardly from the ends of the cut-out to opposed ends of said center piece, the distance across said ends being substantially equal to the distance across said crotch, said arcuate cutouts contoured to fit about the inner thigh of a wearer, said centerpiece extending from the front of the waistline of a wearer beneath the crotch to the rear of the waistline of a wearer; side panels secured to said centerpiece along said tapered edges extending from said cut-outs, said side panels stretchable along an axis at an angle to the line of stretching of said centerpiece,

5 whereby binding of material in the crotch will be eliminated.

5. A brief as in claim 4 in which a waist band and leg bands are secured to the brief to encircle the Waist and legs of the wearer respectively, said bands formed of a strip of material joined at its ends, with the seam of juncture of said bands lying along the line of juncture of the side panels to the centerpiece at the rear of the brief.

6. A brief as in claim 4 in which a length of binding References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,435,945 2/ 1948 Redmond 2224 2,471,348 5/ 1949 Redmond 2224 2,808,592 10/ 1957 Schwarz 2-224 2,834,020 5/ 1958 Warten 2224 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

is arranged between said side panels and said centerpiece 10 ROBERT V. SLOAN, Examiner.

along the line of securement of said side panels of said centerpiece at the front of the brief.

A. R. GUEST, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A BRIEF COMPRISING A SYMMERTRICAL FRONT AND REAR PANEL FORMED AS A CONTINUOUS PIECE EXTENDING FROM THE FRONT OF THE WAIST DOWN UNDER THE CROTCH TO THE REAR OF THE WAIST, SAID PANEL HAVING A WAIST ENCOMPASSING EDGE ON EACH END THEREOF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE ACROSS THE CROTCH, SAID PANEL SUBJECT TO PRIMARY ELASTIC ELONGATED IN A SINGLE DIRECTION EXTENDING FROM THE WAIST TO THE CROTCH; SIDE PANELS SECURED TO SAID FRONT AND REAR PANEL, COOPERATING THEREWITH TO FORM A WAIST AND LEG, SAID SIDE PANELS SUBJECT TO PRIMARY ELASTIC ELONGATION IN A DIRECTION AT AN ANGLE TO THE DIRECTION OF ELASTIC ELONGATION OF SAID FRONT AND REAR PANEL, WHEREBY THOUGH THE BRIEF IS SUBJECT TO STRETCHING TO ACCOMODATE MOVEMENT OF THE WEARER DISTORTIONS TENDING TO PRODUCE GAGGINESS UPON RELEASE OF TENSION DO NOT PRODUCE AN ACCUMULATION OF MATERIAL IN THE CROTCH. 